1995-1996:

I lived in Kingston Jamaica and taught courses at the Edna Manley School for the Visual & Performing Arts three decades ago.  At the time, the exchange rate was 1 CAD = 25 JMD (approximately) but you could get value for your money if you knew where (& how) to spend it. The only UNC notes I found would be the odd $100 note (or $500 issued in 1995) from the bank account I set up there.   I was paid too poorly to keep these UNC $100 JMD notes since a $100 was a taxi trip across Kingston (or dinner out). The $500 was reserved for groceries!  The reality was: I wasn't ready to "cross the line" into the WORLD banknote "rabbit hole." I had started a Bank of Canada signature set back home (and it seemed extravagant as a hobby). My paycheque didn't go very far & I always felt strapped for cash.  I had just completed 5 years of university and was completely "spent" so my savings were limited too. I had my Bank of Canada collection (back home) but WORLD currency was "crossing the line."  Starting a new teaching job in Jamaica had challenges of its own. Although small denominations would have been easy to keep, I never came across high grade examples. That changed after I returned to Canada, earned decent wages and learned more about the hobby.

Sometime around 2015:

I was encouraged to turn to World currency in 2002-2003. Another collector, Tom, was becoming a World dealer and he encouraged me to consider "going global." I bought an attractive VF Republic of Ireland, Lady Lavery 10 Shillings note from him. But it wasn't until around 2015 that I bought early 2002 "Duisenberg" signed Euros. It took me some time before I started buying the odd World note on eBay.  The interest in Euros came after a 2004 trip to Europe.  I had mostly found "Trichet" signed notes and very few of the first signature while there. If I found the odd "Duisenberg" 10 Euro, it was a very soiled rag. Back then, I had no real focus, but rather was attracted to the note's design. I won an auction on a large 100 Franc note from Luxembourg so pre-Euros were also very enticing. 

I went on my 2nd trip to Europe in 2015. I met my university flatmate and some of his friends in Tallinn, Estonia.  Estonia had just switched to Euros (like Lithuania) but Latvia still had not converted. I was shocked at the Latvian exchange rate and promised myself to pick up a few UNC examples when I returned home. That year, I began purchasing as many cheaper pre-Euro nations I could pick up. 

July 2025:

I encourage collectors to LEARN which series are TOUGH (No Date ND, revised Full White Markers vs 2 White Markers, etc) and to seek these series before the easier issues! This is what I did while collecting most World series. I was determined to pass on the Collector's Series (UNC sets sold separately to collectors). I felt that the Collector's Series were similar to the ubiquitous "collector specimens" & NOT as collectible* (or difficult to obtain) as the regular issues.  I have resisted the urge to buy educational specimens (unless regular issues are scarce).

I started searching for the following notes in 2022 and have just completed the set (below) with the FIFTY CENT note (P-53) last. It took me 3 years & I consider that pretty fast! I also should point out that I may pick up the $500 plus the 1976 mid- dominations should opportunities present themselves. My limitations were: no TPG*, no polymer, nor any denomination higher than the $500 (& no Collector's Series). 

You may also note that underneath each pictured example (below) I have placed the date and 1 of 2 possible codes (T or E). The date represents the year the note was issued & the letters (T = Tough, T* = somewhat tough & E = Easy). They are intend to be a generalization on how "easy-to-difficult" it was to obtain/buy each note in UNC. Although I put both "T" & "T*" next to the lower denominations (P-53; P-54 & P-59) these notes were not that tough to source (there were quite a few sellers) as it was more a matter of time/expense. I was bound to find a seller who was willing to part with an UNC example for a reasonable price! During the pandemic, P-53 (50 Cents) had shot up to $50.00. I even saw Gem graded examples go for "north of $50" to "$100.00 a pop!" It got to the point where I was actually contemplating on bidding for a graded example! But that was not part of my original collector goal. The note was not that tough to get in UNC (there were plenty of high grade examples of the P-53 (50 Cents listed). Right after I purchased it, a Chinese seller had an UNC example for $20 USD (about $7.00 less what I paid). The much tougher notes to pick up in UNC were the first mid-denominations (ND $2.00; $5.00; $10 & $20) & the few sellers who own these, know this fact.  So, I chose the Easy path, and picked up "fillers" for these spots (ROW 3).

*collectible* - I realize that collectible is a relative term. I am trying to keep the definition to UNC (super, original eye appeal) & tougher to obtain (expensive, high NRI+ & only few sellers) but also don't wish to dismiss the less collectible issues in high grades. Some of the differences between one collectible version and the next is like splitting hairs!  Sometimes, especially when acquiring a set, getting a "gap-filler" is certainly preferable to not trying to acquire the same set! 

*TPG (Third Party Graded: I did not want this set to be certified by PMG or another certifier)

NRI+ Read "Conclusion below" on my take of how to employ the Numista Rarity Index. 

Conclusions:

• Research I used my own Sites & Forums [Numista NRI # Numista Rarity Index #] auction results, past sales, (etc), & soon realized that the first 3 ND (No Date) issues have been the toughest series to acquire in high grades.  However, at the time, I had just purchased a pre-decimal set (5/-; 10/- & 1 Pound) & did not place as much emphasis on picking up exclusive first/Second series. The mid denominations ($2-$20) are definite "gap-fillers" (from dated series) and I'm okay with that (for now). 

• Understand how to process NRI* numbers (Numista Rarity Index). Be vigilant that Numista volunteers may unwittingly skew the NRI numbers so that they may in fact be misleading (for example- some Numista Contributors have combined the Pick numbers). I would not place too much emphasis on the NRI exclusively.  Use other data you get from your online research to back up your goals.

• Go for the highest grade you can get (this should be easy for this series).

• Set some LIMITS (No TPG examples, no polymer & no specimens for me/regular issue)

My collector radar was set for:

• Discontinued series (ND 1970, 1976 & initial Jamaica Act) + discontinued 50 cent to $20.00

• Colonial currency (I purchased a PMG Colonial set: 5 Shillings, 10 Shillings & 1 Pound notes before I started this set)

• First "Single-letter" prefixes are short first prefixes & always sought after by most (I happened to get a single-letter prefix on my P-54 $1.00 example).

Remember to:

• Ignore the hype generated over new polymer series & focus on what matters to you! In my case, I wanted notes that I may have caught during my short career there in 1995-1996.

July 31 2025:

I will be adding more personal spotlights on sets I have acquired in upcoming months. In the meantime, enjoy my carousel of Pre-decimal notes!

For my pre-decimal sets, World Banknote auctions had advertised a special auction with exclusive Bank of Jamaica offerings. I had bid on some of the early King George VI notes but pulled back (did not win a thing). I also started bidding on tough QEII 5 /- notes; QEII 10/- & the QEII 1 Pound notes. For the Five Shillings, I knew I wanted P-49 the first (tougher) Latin Motto version & was thrilled to win the GEM UNC 66 example. I tried for the tougher tougher (Latin Motto) P-50 Ten Shillings but ended up winning a much easier P-51Be 10/- (George A Brown) version. The note is another GEM 66 but also the easiest kind to own (I had bid on the scarcer Payton & Hall signed varieties as well). The bidding on the ONE Pound examples was fierce and unfortunately I lost on all the examples I bid on. I had to wait until their next auction & won the P-51Ce ONE Pound note (last & most common English motto "Brown" signature). 

Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at notaphilyc@gmail.com 

LIST of WORLD Available